Bottle selector



Oct 1965 c. F. STRICKLING BOTTLE SELECTOR Filed Sept. 10, 1962 INVENTO'RL Char/es FSfr/c/d/ nq United States Patent Office 3,211,290 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 3,211,290 BOTTLE SELECTOR Charles F. Strickling, Rte. 2, Fenwick, Mich. Filed Sept. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 230,779 1 Claim. (Cl. 209-126) This invention provides a device for selecting all of the bottles of a particular maximum height from a random collection in a conventional crate. The effect of the crate is to establish a regular arrangement of the base of the bottles, and it can be shown that bottles associated with certain well-known beverages differ from bottles for other beverages by slight variations of height. There may be other very wide variations in bottle dimensions and capacity, but the height seems to be the best dimension on which to base a rough sorting operation of the type for which the equipment provided by this invention was intended to be used.

Bottling companies are faced with the problem of sorting out the various types of bottles from the crates that are returned from the retail outlets. When these bottles leave the bottler, the cases are all filled with bottles of like kind. As they are used, there is always an intermixture of bottles as the empties are returned to the cases on the premises of the retailer. Cleaning and bottling operations are normally based upon bottles of a given size and type, and it is the conventional practice to manually sort the bottles as they are removed from the cases. It is the purpose of this invention to remove all of the bottles of a given maximum height from a case, and this operation can be repeated if there are more than two sizes of bottles involved.

The amount of the difference in the height of various types of bottles is frequently quite small, and the effectiveness of this sorting operation depends upon engaging the bottle at the very topmost point at which a sufficient gripping action can be established to securely hold the bottle as it is withdrawn from the case. Conventional bottle design involves a group of at least two, and often three, axially-spaced annular ridges near the top of the bottle. The topmost of these is designed for receiving a crimped cap, and it is this ridge which is engaged by the sorting device povided by this invention. By grasping this irregularity, the bottle is gripped at the very topmost point at which any gripping action is possible, and the customary dimensions of this topmost ridge are such as to normally exceed the height difference of the various types of bottles. As the sorting device is lowered over a random collection in a case, only the bottles of maximum height can be gripped by the device. These bottles prevent the device from being lowered sufficiently to obtain a grip upon the shorter groups.

The several features of the invention will be analyzed in further detail through a discussion of the particular embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 presents a perspective view showing an assembled bottle selector constructed according to the preferred form of the invention, the device being shown in a position which is inverted from that in which it is normally used.

FIGURE 2 presents a section on an enlarged scale taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1 and inverted to the position of normal use showing the structural arrangement of the device shown in FIGURE 1, with bottles of varying heights being shown in dotted lines.

FIGURE 3 presents a plan view of one of the slidable locking panels of the device illustrated in FIGURES l and 2.

Referring to the drawing, the gripping action of the preferred form of the device is based upon the action of a pair of superimposed locking plates of the type shown in FIGURE 3. These are identical in form, but are placed with the rolled handle section 10 at the opposite ends of the device. The panels themselves are generally referred to as 11, and each contain a series of tapered apertures 12. When these panels are overlaid, and with the handles 10 at the opposite ends (as shown in FIGURE 2), the apertures 12 are normally aligned and combined to define openings which vary in size according to the position of the panels 11 with respect to each other. These panels are slidably mounted in the device, and may be positioned by the handles 10 so that manipulation of the two locking panels 11 will move the panels from a position in which the topmost ridge 13 of the highest bottles 14 will be securely gripped.

The shorter bottles 15 and 16 cannot be engaged by the panels 11 because of the presence of the stop panel 17 limiting the projection of the top of the bottles through the opening defined by the apertures 12. The locking panels 11 are mounted in sliding relationship at a fixed spacing from the stop panel 17; and in the preferred form of the invention, this spaced relationship is established by a locating panel 18. This panel has a plurality of holes 19 having beveled entrances as shown at 20, and the spacing of the holes 19 conforms to the location of the groups of bottles within a conventional carrying case. The spaced relationship of the locating panel 18 and the stop panel 17 is maintained by a conventional spacer (not shown) associated with fastenings shown at 21-24. These fastenings are received within the slots 25-28 in the locking panels 10, the slots being of sufficient length to permit the necessary sliding movement to pass from gripping to release positions.

While it is preferable to utilize the illustrated arrangement involving the relative movement of two gripping panels 11, it is possible to use only one of the panels and rely upon the positioning effect of holes 19. Experience has shown this to be a less satisfactory type of operation, however, and the illustrated device will prove to be superior. When the two locking panels 11 are used, as shown in FIGURE 2, the locating panel 18 becomes a convenience rather than a necessity (on the assumption that other means are used to space the locking panels 11 with respect to the stop panel 17). The relatively thick locating panel 18 permits the use of substantial bevels 20, which facilitates the engagement of the device with a crate of bottles. The device operates much more easily with this arrangement than if the tops of the bottles are merely worked directly into the openings defined by the apertures 12. The thickness of the locating panel 18 also results in considerable structural strength, and removes the need for any substantial degree of bending stength or rigidity in the locking panels 11. This, in turn, permits the thickness of the locking panels 11 to be reduced to a minimum, and thereby makes it possible to engage the ridges 13 most effectively.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have been illustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claim. In this claim, it is my intent to claim the entire invention disclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

For combination with bottles for various heights having regularly arranged bases, a sorting device for removal of all of said bottles of uniform maximum height, each of said bottles having an annular ridge immediately adjacent its mouth, said ridges being of substantially equal predetermined height, said device comprising stop means providing bottle abutment surfaces lying substantially in a plane for engaging the mouth ends of said bottles of maximum height, and locking means including a pair of superimposed relatively slidable panels containing normally aligned apertures providing bottle engaging edges lying substantially in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said abutment surfaces, the distance between said planes being substantially equal to said predetermined equal height of said ridges, said panels being relatively oppositely slidable substantially parallel to said planes for gripping bottles below the maximum diameters of said ridges, said locking means engaging bottles whose uppermost ridges occupy positions between said planes, each of said panels having a handle extending beyond an opposite end of said stop means for shifting the panels relatively and for lifting the sorting device together with any bottles gripped thereby.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,530,470 11/50 Kenly 248229 X 2,813,746 11/57 Goldsmith 294-8726 10 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Examiner.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Acting Primary Examiner. 

